Remaining active during your senior years is something very important. It helps to promote a healthy mood and allows for better quality of life. There are many activities that promote an overall state of well being; these include outdoor activities, indoor activities, and activities that include your favorite holidays and family members. Why do activities? Activities are helpful when you want to minimize challenges. Feelings of restlessness and distress can be reduced through the use of activities. What are a few activities that can help with this? Here is a list:
- Take a walk
- Plant flowers
- Water plants
- Feed the birds
- Rake leaves
- Go to the park
- Sit on a bench or a swing
- Watch dogs at a dog park
- Play catch or toss a ball
- Play cornhole
- Visit a beach or forest preserve
- Sweep the porch or patio
- Set up a picnic on the lawn or in the backyard
- Sit on the porch and drink coffee, hot chocolate or lemonade
(Alzheimer's Association, 2020)
When outdoor activities aren't for you there are many alternatives a person can enjoy including a list of indoor activities. Indoor activities are great for individuals who don't like bad weather and want to avoid the possibilities of catching a cold or the rain on them. These activities include:
- Listen to the person’s favorite music
- Sing karaoke
- Look at family photo albums
- Make a family tree poster board
- Take photos of the person and make a collage
- Encourage the person to talk more about subjects they enjoy
- Ask the person about their childhood, siblings, school, pets or first car
- Watch a favorite sport on television
- Model with play dough
- Make paper cranes
- Play checkers or dominos
- Play a card game
- Play Mahjong
- Name the presidents
- Look at photos in a photography book or magazine
- Identify states on a U.S. map
- Complete a puzzle together
- Read from one of their favorite books
- Watch a favorite movie, sitcom or telenovela
- Read the newspaper together or read it to them
- Prepare afternoon tea
- Bake cookies or bread
- Set the table
- Make the person's favorite lunch or snack
- Wash and dry dishes
- Put silverware away
- Fold clothes or towels
- Give the person a hand massage with lotion
- Brush his or her hair
- Give the person a manicure
(Alzheimer's Association, 2020)
When it's the holiday season and you are together with the family, what can you look forward to? Here is a list of activities for the holiday season when you are with your family:
- Listen to favorite holiday music
- Make a traditional family recipe
- Bake holiday desserts
- Create holiday greeting cards
- Watch a favorite holiday movie
- Play a piano or guitar and sing holiday songs
- Decorate for a holiday your family celebrates
- Make handmade gifts
- Watch home videos of past family birthdays, weddings, holidays and other special occasions
(Alzheimer's Association, 2020)
In conclusion don't limit yourself, get creative but remember to remain as safe as possible. Champion care PCA or HHA certified caregivers are trained to help with all activities including all the activities listed. These activities can be scheduled with your caregiver when they are with you. Your favorite activities can be translated to you through your care plan. The care plan can be found on the front page or by clicking on this link.
Works Cited:
Alzheimer's Association. “50 Activities.” Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, altzheimer’s association, 2020, www.alz.org/help-support/resources/kids-teens/50-activities. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.